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Wednesday, 9 May 2012

Reflections and links - A to Z challenge April 2012 (Part 2)

Bloggers I met and whose themes or stories I thought were great - and who inspired me during this year's A - Z Challenge

Rhossili Beach, south west WalesNational Trust Places of Interest

Well of course – I have to include Bob Scotney from Yorkshire ... who was Haunting various Castles ... so it was fun to see where we’d clash/duplicate – amazingly only Nottingham – when W came up I was able to adjust my post to make it sufficiently different to Bob’s .... each day we both wondered if we’d select the same Castle ... it was fun – yet our takes were completely different - but the history melded!

Cliffs and Worm's Head Rhossili

Arlee Bird - our main man and organiser - has started a memoir blog - which has some wonderful stories in it ... Wrote by Rote ...

I liked Jenny Pearson’s idea of a weekly recap of her serial story - and then all 26 at the end ...

Heather Murphy Random Interruptions - majored in Music and Psychology at Uni .. so her 26 musical instruments .. including I, Q, X and Z are fascinating and I'll be back to reread ... also she started 'cold' with her blog just before Christmas

Betsy - My Five Men ... has stunning photos, delightful animals - some desired, some acquired, but great story lines and she has triplets with autism ...

Ian - the Botanist - on how he built the setting for his book in a world ahead, the backstory - it's like a glossary - and I found it fascinating ...

Calke Abbey, Derbyshire - the 9th mostvisited property: many of its rooms havebeen deliberately left in a state of decline

Manzanita, who has some fascinating stories on her site, but she blogged about the Hunza peoples high up in the Himalayas ... if you want to see another side of life, please give her blog a viewing - this link takes you back to A for Adventure ... and if she'd tell me why her blog is called "Wanna Buy a Duck"I'd be grateful!

Places to Open Your Eyes:

And one or two that I believe we should all connect with, read, buy their books - understand their lives more ... it's a tough world out there - but blogging gives us the opportunity to support them, to understand life on another set of rails, count our blessings - while being empathetic to their situation ... blogging can be life's university ...

Sue at Traverse Life on Climate Change - this link takes you to her summary ... it is very good

Doris at "Hold My Hand" - is a social worker and posted stories about 'Pauletta', who has Dementia, they are heart warming and very relevant for us all. Last year Doris put her A - Z drabbles into a book (Home Sweet Nursing Home) - and got a great deal of recognition for it ..... this year she is doing the same - so the posts are no longer there. However - her blog is worth subscribing too.

The 10th most visited National Trustproperty - it is Cornwall and one wewould look at every day if we were downwith my mother

Ann Carbine Best has actually written a farewell post - that went up yesterday ... however I hope many of you will go over and connect with Ann, read her posts, and buy her memoir book - she has said she's leaving the virtual world .... but she is a tower of strength and if you read this link, you will understand why. While she was posting she wrote about the 40s and 50s Golden Era of films ... great recommendations ...

The Elizabethan Tower at Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, Kent- the garden designed byVita Sackville-West

Amanda Trought of Inspiration Art and Creativity is looking after her mother, who has dementia and is wrestling with the service providers for help - a learning story here. Amanda is bringing her art and her heart to the dementia table ...

Karen Walker, who has sensibly gone on holiday t0 recoup her wits and spend time with her train loving husband, she sings and she writes ... and her book Following the Whispers tells of a tale we should know about and be grateful it's not us ...

I'm sure I've missed many - apologies ... but please let me know of any I should add ..

Oilskin andsou'wester

Cheers to you all - it's been a great month ... and I actually came away very happy, slightly at a loss - my picnic helped ... and now I need to settle into a summer of Britain ... the Queen's Jubilee, tennis, Olympics and Para Olympics, cricket, Henley ...

We had the State Opening of Parliament today - I went to watch with my mother, but she was 'happily' sleeping through it all ... still I collected some snippets of historical information -

At the weekend I went up to visit and after a while said I was going home before it rained - without batting an eyelid ... my mother said 'so you won't need your sou'wester then' ... as bright as ever - even if life is mostly sleepy.

I really appreciate all your comments and I seem to be garnering more followers than I did during the Challenge - and it must be down to you all ... who have been so complementary.

I loved to visit and learn about all those castles. And this post is remarkable. You are such a thorough person and a caring one too. I love the way you mention so many wonderful blogs here. Some of them I followed through the challenge and enjoyed so much. Thank you for mentioning my A to Z through Sweden and my memories.

Thank you so much, Hilary, for the link to my blog. It's amazing to think that we only met at last year's A to Z. I feel you're a firm friend and you've provided lots more links, some are blogs that I didn't the the chance to visit so I shall pop off and visit them now.

Dear Hilary, Thank you for the link mention. You highlighted so many interesting blogs. I love and live to "learn." Blogging is certainly an education all in itself and so many good and sincere bloggers to yet be met.

I took a little respite ... like so many others did. It means we gave the A-Z our all.

I followed Ann's movies almost every day.... Love those movies. I didn't know she was going adios. I'll bop over. Thanks I'm touched that your Mum is still looking out for you.

Boy, even your summaries are plump with information! Thanks so much for the shout-out, and for mentioning so many other blogs, some of which I haven't checked. (yet) Sorry to hear Ann is dropping out of the blogosphere. I'll have to drop by her blog and wish her well. Thanks for letting us know.

@ Holly - good to see you .. thanks so much for your comment re my posts.

@ Ros - it is just amazing that it's only a year ago we connected .. and yes it's wonderful to think you're a friend not that far away - I've loved your postings .. and your knowledge of Leicester and your family connections.

@ Michelle - I so agree ... but can understand Ann's reasoning - she's said it so eloquently .... like you I'll be sad to see her go ...

Lol! MOthers do that all the time. Just about the time we think they're not paying any attention to us, they pop out with something. I always admired that about my mom as a kid and darn if she doesn't still do that now and then.

Hi Hilary and thanks for the shout-out. I'm honoured and pleased that you enjoyed the Paris tour. Hope you'll stop by often.

Your series was one of the highlights in the challenge, and I didn't mention those who made an impression on me, but I will be adding those blogs to my lists of writer sites. Yours will certainly make my list! I learned something every time I've visited. And I like the pictures. . .

Enjoyed the two part Reflections, and I'll be back to check out those castle posts I missed.

Hilary, who knew there were so many castles! So many that you and your friend only overlapped slightly. I would have to imagine there are even more not touched upon by either of you.

Castles were not just fortresses, but homes as well. Through the reading of historical fiction, I drew my own mental images of castles and what they would look like both inside and out. There are many styles and shapes that apparently reflect the needs of the occupants and the surrounding land. Well done!

Some great new blog links to follow and browse. I can understand the complements as you did a sterling job in your 2012 A-Z!

Glad your Mum could chat a bit - even it was about the rain in the UK - my Mom is heading your way for the summer, but has warned my sister if the rain continues she'll rather brave our winter (which looks like it'll be cold!) than 3 months of grey & wet skies.

Enjoy all the happenings this summer - such a year for England, so many auspicious events!

Hope lovely to hear your mother still has something positive to say. My mother has more gumpy moments just lately. I hope if we have some brighter weather it might bring her back to her old self. A great posting. I love the view of Rhossili Beach. I walked along there in the late 80's and seen the Worm's head. It looks like a dragon swimming out to see. Wonderful.

@ Liara - many thanks - they deserve their recommendations .. and they all offer something relevant to life.

@ Linda - not just these few - they're the tip of an iceberg .. over 2,500 castles (not mansions, palaces, historic houses etc!) - so you're right we didn't get close to sending you off to them all.

Castles evolved over time - and yes I didn't get to do the styles and shapes .. but gave an indication .. so pleased you enjoyed them.

@ Lee - many thanks for coming past again .. and for going back to relook. They were an interesting bunch of castles .. so I'm pleased you enjoyed them.

@ Nutschell - many thanks .. just enjoyed the Challenge and the theme.

@ Judy - good to see you back .. and glad you enjoyed the castle exploration.

Yes - as you'll see from today's post she's having a bright patch. It is terrible here - and I do hope by the time your mother arrives, it will have warmed up - but they're forecasting more rain next week. It's sunny today - but cold! So I wouldn't blame her returning home .. but I think she'll be seduced to stay with all the festivities?!

Incredible amount going on ... you are so right .. I keep finding new things that I'd love to get to ..

@ Jarmara - just sometimes my mother sparkles again ..I do hope you can get your mother out.

The Rhossili photos were exquisite - I couldn't not put them in - and I'm delighted to have your comments about that part of Wales.

@ Shirley - great that I'm inspiring English and overseas visitors alike to visit some of these castles.

Delighted you've popped over to some of the other bloggers - they're fun ...

Funnily enough I'm not exhausted with it all .. after my picnic I was quite refreshed!

You mentioned a couple blogs I need to check out. It was great following your castle tour and it was pretty cool that someone else decided on the same theme and they worked so well together. Have a happy Mother's Day.

You did an amazing job, and came up with a great list of bloggers! Sorry I didn't visit more often. I also appreciate the effort you put into sending me emails. When I did try the pop up window, I ran into other problems. Thanks for all that you do Hilary! Julie

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About Me

A lover of life – who after London, spent time in South Africa; an administrator, sports lover, who enjoys cooking and entertaining ... who through her mother’s illness found a new passion – writing, in particular blogging; which provides an opportunity for future exploration, by the daughter, who has (in her 3rd age years) found a love of historical education. Curiosity didn’t kill this cat – interaction is the key! Now moved to Vancouver Island, Canada for 'a while' - not forever ...